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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Toyota SIENNA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

429 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

77,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 357 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 429 complaints (14.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior9923.1%
Steering behavior327.5%
Transmission and shifting214.9%
Electrical and battery issues153.5%
Engine operation51.2%
Fuel system concerns40.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure:Body
64
Vehicle Speed Control
51
Electrical System
42
Engine
39
Unknown Or Other
34
Steering
33
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
29
Power Train
28
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure:Body64
Vehicle Speed Control51
Electrical System42
Engine39
Unknown Or Other34
Steering33
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)29
Power Train28

Structure:Body: 64; Vehicle Speed Control: 51; Electrical System: 42; Engine: 39; Unknown Or Other: 34; Steering: 33; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 29; Power Train: 28

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
54
25,000 to 49,999
55
50,000 to 74,999
66
75,000 to 99,999
78
100,000 to 149,999
71
150,000 and above
33
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00054
25,000 to 49,99955
50,000 to 74,99966
75,000 to 99,99978
100,000 to 149,99971
150,000 and above33

Under 25,000: 54; 25,000 to 49,999: 55; 50,000 to 74,999: 66; 75,000 to 99,999: 78; 100,000 to 149,999: 71; 150,000 and above: 33

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (78). 72 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2007
1
2008
6
2009
17
2010
62
2011
23
2012
22
2013
38
2014
53
2015
50
2016
38
2017
27
2018
31
2019
18
2020
19
2021
7
2022
8
2023
3
2024
2
2025
2
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20071
20086
200917
201062
201123
201222
201338
201453
201550
201638
201727
201831
201918
202019
20217
20228
20233
20242
20252
20262

2007: 1; 2008: 6; 2009: 17; 2010: 62; 2011: 23; 2012: 22; 2013: 38; 2014: 53; 2015: 50; 2016: 38; 2017: 27; 2018: 31; 2019: 18; 2020: 19; 2021: 7; 2022: 8; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 99 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10290568 · 2009-11-02 (November 2, 2009)

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT. CAR WAS DRIVEN 200 MILES THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND GARAGED. THE NEXT MORNING, CAR WAS STARTED, BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, AND DRIVEN 15 MPH FOR 1/4 MILE UNTIL ON MAIN ROAD. AFTER TRAVELING 0.4 MILES ON MAIN ROAD I SLOWED TO A RED LIGHT. THE ENGINE STARTED RACING (BUT NOT RED-LINING). I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH REMOVED THE FORWARD PRESSURE, AND AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, THE RPMS DRIFTED BACK INTO THE NORMAL RANGE. THIS IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. OTH…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290568 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10290897 · 2009-11-04 (November 4, 2009)

PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP SIGN OR INTERSECTION AT THE SPEED BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH AND THEN GO TO INCREASE SPEED. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES. ONE TIME THE ENGINE SEEMED TO ROAR UP, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE.... THIS HESITATION OCCURS WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLOWING DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION OR TURNING AT A CORNER. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY BUT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE. I CAN OFTEN REPRODUCE HESITATION WITH A HARD BRAKE FOLLOWED BY HEAVY THROTTLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10294883 · 2009-12-08 (December 8, 2009)

I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL IN MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA WHEN THE CONTROL LEVER WAS OVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL IN A SLIGHT LEFT TURN, RESULTING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL GOING UNEXPECTEDLY INTO "RESUME". BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER I HAD SLOWED DOWN AND WAS NOT EXPECTING THE INSTANT ACCELERATION. TOOK A COUPLE SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHEN I HAD TRIED TO OPERATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL. THE TOYOTA CRUISE CONTROL LEVER MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT TURNS WITH THE WHEEL APPEARS TO BE A LESS THAN DESIRABLE E…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294883 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10307934 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)

BELOW STEERING PROBLEMS PERSIST TO THE PRESENT, DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES AND TOYOTA ENGINEERS. THE APPROXIMATE DATE OF INCIDENT LISTED WITH THIS REPORT REPRESENTS THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE / TIME FIRST OCCURRED. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL ISSUES ARE PRESENT, I DID TRY TO DESCRIBE THEM INTO 3 DISTINCT PROBLEMS. 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA LE AWD, BEARING STEERING ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE: 1. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL PHYSICALLY TURNS TO THE RIGHT, WHILE BRAKING. 2. STEERING WHEEL FAILS TO CENTER PROPERL…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307934 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10222332 · 2008-03-26 (March 26, 2008)

WE HAVE AN '08 8 PASSENGER TOYOTA SIENNA LE. MY SON LIKES TO PLAY WITH THE LIGHTS... WE KEPT WARNING HIM IF THEY GOT LEFT ON THE BATTERY WOULD DIE. IT FINALLY HAPPENED. HAD TO GO IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR USING THE KEY - STUCK THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED IT AND YUP, SURE ENOUGH - DEAD. TOTALLY DEAD. THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK THE SLIDING DOORS. THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOORS (FROM INSIDE OR OUT). THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK (WHICH CAN'T BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE ANYWAY - ANOTHER CONCERN) I HAD GONE OUT TO TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222332 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10323405 · 2010-04-01 (April 1, 2010)

VEHICLE TRAVELING 35MPH ON A LEVEL STREET. WARM,DRY,WINDY,CLOUDY AFTERNOON. SUDDEN ACCELERATION! BRIEF (1-2 SECONDS) ENDED BEFORE I COULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE. NO DAMAGE,COLLISION OR INJURY OCCURRED. JUST STARTLED. CHECKED FOR FLOOR MAT OR OTHER VISIBLE OBSTRUCTION/ IMPEDANCE, NONE APPARENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS SURE OF THE OCCURRENCE. THERE HAVE BEEN A VARIETY OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE ELECTRICAL /ELECTRONIC "GLITCHES" : AC GREEN LIGHT ON BUTTON COMES ON BY ITSELF, SUMMER OR WINTER AND SOMETIMES I CAN NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. …

Owner-reported narrative. 22,553 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323405 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10416461 · 2011-08-01 (August 1, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED SIX TIMES ON THE SAME DAY. THE ENGINE RESTARTED EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO COULD NOT LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR A THIRD OPINION TO POSSIBL…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447848 · 2012-02-13 (February 13, 2012)

AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ALL LIGHTS FLICKER ON THEN LOST ALL POWER.......OILLINE HAD LEAKED ON ALTERNATOR BELT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. LUCKILY POWER LOSS PREVENTED ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OIL LEAK. WE HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA ABOUT THE OIL LINE PROBLEM OR RECALL.....ONLY AFTER A LOCAL GARAGE FIXED THE LINE DID I FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL....I WOULD HAD IT REPLACED EARLIER IF I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10237809 · 2008-08-12 (August 12, 2008)

TO CHANGE A TIRE THE FLOOR JACK WAS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE A LITTLE TOO FAR TOWARD THE CENTER (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) OF THE VEHICLE. THE PLACEMENT APPEARED TO BE AGAINST STEEL BUT IN REALITY THE MATERIAL WAS BLACK PLASTIC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LIFTED THE PLASTIC GAVE WAY AND DAMAGED THE FILLER PIPE TO THE FUEL TANK CAUSING FUEL TO BE DUMPED TO THE STATION DRIVE DURING THE REFUELING PROCESS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE PLASTIC IS THERE TO PROTECT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. THIS WOULD OCCUR EACH TIME REFUELING TAKES PLACE. THE CONSEQUENC…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237809 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10350180 · 2010-08-17 (August 17, 2010)

ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (2008 SIENNA LIMITED AWD) LAST TWO WEEK IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 75 MPH. WITH NOT PRIOR SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I TRIED TO START IT UP BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. (AUGUST 1, 680 SOUTH BOND AL COSTA BLVD IS WHERE MY CAR BROKE DOWN) SO WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE SUNNYVALE TOYOTA. THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE US A REPORT OF WHAT WENT WRONG . TURNS OUT THE FUEL PUMP DOESN'T WORK, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY BECAUSE IT IS A INDEPENDENT PART, I CONSULTED A PROFESSIONAL AUTO MECH…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350180 at NHTSA ↗